When Denise Dmitruk was diagnosed with cancer, her life shifted dramatically. A longtime health care worker, she suddenly found herself in the patient’s chair. Appointments, scans, and treatments replaced the normalcy of daily life. Even the fridge, once covered with family photos, became a wall of appointment reminders.

During her treatment from 2021 to 2023, one recurring challenge stood out: parking. Patients shared how costly, inconvenient, and stressful it was – meters expired mid-appointment, spots were far from the door, and visits were frequent.

Denise knew the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan helped cover parking costs, but she saw a deeper issue: unlike the Saskatoon Cancer Centre, there were no designated parking spots for cancer patients at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre (ABCC) in Regina. In 2023, she launched a petition for change.

That same year, Denise was introduced to Shaun Nemeth, a fellow patient whose cancer had metastasized. Despite his illness, Shaun continued working and uplifting others with his strength and optimism. The lack of accessible parking made his tough days of cancer treatment even harder. He joined Denise’s efforts, and together they successfully secured 11 dedicated parking spots at ABCC – with 5 more available when needed.